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(No Model.)

J. CALDWELL.

` EAR KNOB. yNo. 269,383. Patented De0.19, 1882.

FIEIIE| FlEn. PIE-m4n WITNEEIEIEEI Ilm/ENTER.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CALDWELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WV. B. BENNETTSt GO., OF SAME PLACE.

EAR-KNOB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,383, dated December19, 1882. Application mamy 8,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN CALDWELL, ofProvidence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvementin Ear-Knobs, of which the following is a specification.

The 'nature of my invention consists in an improvement in the devicesfor locking the knob to the ear, whereby an efficient lockingcarch issecured Without unduly weakening the wire of the pin which passesthrough thev perforation in the ear, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents my improved ear-knob partly in elevation andpartlyin section. Fig. 2 is a plnnlview of the inner face of thespringcase. Fig. 3 represents a similar view ot' the spring-case, withthe perforated disk removed, showing the form ofthe locking-spring. Fig.4 is a detail view, showing` the notch in the pin for-engagement withthe locking-spring.

In the drawings, A is -the setting' for the stone B. The ear-penetratingpin O, attached to the back of the setting A, is made pointed andprovided on one side with a single notch, a.

Within the hemisphericnl case l) is secured the wire spring E, bent incircular form, with two inwardly-turned arms, e e, which serve to claspthe pin C, one on either side. The spring E is held in the case D bymeans of the disk F, which is perforated at its center b to receive theend of the pin O. After passing the pin C through the perforation in theear, from the iront thereof', the spring-case D 1s to be placed over thepoint of the pin O, the pin entering` the hole b in rthe disk F. The twoparts A l) will then be secured to each other by the engagement of oneot' the spring-arms c with the notch a, made at one side of the pin, andin order to remove the knob from the ear one of the parts is to be heldwhile the otheris turned fora'oout ninety degrees, so as to bring thenotch c on that side of the pin which is included between thespring-arms e e. The spring-case D may then be readily pulled from thepin O and the pin removed from the perforat-ion in the ear of thewearer. Thepin O, being of necessity made small in order to suitablyenter the hole in the ear, is not adapted for more than a single notch,which should extend to near the center ot' the wire, and upon insertioninto the holeb the pointed end of the pin will force the arms c e apart,and the notch c will either engage directly with one of the spring-armse c, or, in case the pin is not entered in the proper angular positionto effect such direct engagement, a slight rotary movement of either ofthe parts A D will serve to effect the proper engagement, and thecombination of two spring-arms with a pin having a single notch is thegist-of my improvement, whereby the advantage of a strong and durablelock is secured, with ready and convenient attachment to the ear underany angular position of the holding-pin.

I am aware that ear-knobs have heretofore been constructed in whiclrtwospring-arms are made to engage with a circumferential groove made aroundthe pin, causing liability of bending or breaking; but

I claim as my invention- In an ear-knob, the combination of the ense D,perforated disk F, and spring E, provided with the two spring-armsee,with the pointed pin O, provided with the notch d, made atone sideofthe pin,'and adapted fordisengagement from either of the spring-arms eby the angular movement otl the case D and pin O relatively to eachother, substantially as described.

JOHN CALDWELL.

WVitnesses 1 SOCRATES SoHoLFrELD, WELLINGTON P. DoLLoFE.

